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With Graduation in Sight, Seniors Present Projects: Assignments Will Be a State Requirement for Class of 2008

Posted on: Sunday, 30 April 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Venice Buhain, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

Apr. 30--LACEY -- After 90 days of intense research and practice, Angela Polson, 17, a senior at North Thurston High School, played the delicate strains of the opening of Claude Debussy's "Arabesque" on the piano.

In one semester, she learned about the different methods of learning, worked under a professional mentor, and then relearned the piano technique that faded after she quit piano lessons in middle school.

"My lack of technique and knowledge in the past 10 years was evident when I started playing 'Arabesque,' " she admitted as part of the project required to graduate from North Thurston schools.

Culmination

The state will require all seniors to tackle a "culminating project," also called a senior or graduation project, as part of the graduation requirements for the Class of 2008, but many schools and districts, such as North Thurston Public Schools and the Tumwater School District, have had that requirement for years, said Kim Schmanke, spokeswoman with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Olympia School District does not have that requirement yet, though every senior will have to have a project by the 2007-08 school year, spokesman Peter Rex said.

River Ridge High School has required a graduation project since 1994, North Thurston district administrator Karen Eitrem said. The other schools in the North Thurston district adopted the same or slightly different requirements, she said.

The high schools in the Tumwater School District started that requirement several years ago, Black Hills High School teacher Mark Zarate said.

The projects are meant to encourage analytical and creative thinking, to give students a chance to explore interesting topics and to find a way to connect students' learning to the real world, according to the state superintendent's Web site. Many schools require a panel of adult judges to weigh in as well.

However, it will be up to each district to decide how the students will do the projects, Schmanke said.

In the North Thurston district, students can develop a project from any topic that interests them, said Pat Slosson, a teacher at River Ridge.

The only limitation is that it needs to be researchable, and the students have to find willing mentors from the community -- one aspect of the project. About 46 percent of students at River Ridge choose a career- related topic, but it can be about anything.

"There was one student, he wanted to learn to play the guitar," Slosson said.

At the end of his project, he couldn't play very well, but he was well-versed on the history of the guitar, and his project got a good grade.

Research coach

Slosson teaches the graduation projects class at River Ridge, and she likens her role to one of a research coach. She helps them use the Web for research and learn how to use citations and other skills necessary to complete the projects.

"What we're doing is helping the individual students," she said.

The projects in the Tumwater district are very different, said Zarate of Black Hills.

He said the district wanted students to reflect on how aspects of their high school experience have changed their lives.

"They are presenting themselves as a final product," he said. "They're critically analyzing themselves."

Each student produces a portfolio, which logs specific requirements in his or her high school career, and documents 30 hours of volunteer service with organizations or churches, Zarate said.

He said Black Hills is trying to integrate working on the portfolio for students in every grade.

Pausing for reflection

Students also give a presentation on their reflections, which sometimes includes a performance or a demonstration but often is a PowerPoint presentation.

"They make these connections about their activities and life after high school," Zarate said. "Football players, for instance, they're learning more than, say, how to block someone or how to tackle someone."

Though the required presentation is brief, it looms large over the seniors.

Polson, of North Thurston High School, gave her real presentation in front of a community panel last semester, when she completed her graduation project. Last week, she presented it again in front of a group of peers to show them how to do it.

Students were most curious about how she organized the piano portion of her presentation and what the community panel asked her.

The panel members "had their poker faces on," Polson said in an interview. "But they were very attentive, and they asked questions about things I had mentioned."

Alayna Brantner, 17, also at North Thurston High School, is working on a graduation project about teaching and said she enjoyed it much more than she expected. The senior, who decided to major in education while working on her project, admitted to a few nerves about presenting to a panel in June.

"I'm somewhat nervous, but I'm so excited about what I'm doing, I hope that will help me," she said.

Panelists sought

Peek into the mind of a student by sitting on a panel for graduation projects, North Thurston administrators urge.

The district needs adults to sit on panels for the graduation projects at all four of its high schools, said Rachel Aarts of North Thurston Public Schools.

Panelists will watch and judge the presentations and ask questions of students. In the North Thurston districts, the presentations are 10 minutes long.

"It's a good opportunity to see our students," Aarts said. "It shows the community what our students are like."

Many parents of students in younger grades volunteer as a way to get thinking about what their own children will have to do to graduate, she said.

Panels run between May 30 and June 1.

To volunteer, contact Aarts through the district Web site at www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/ gradproject.

Projects by district

North Thurston Public Schools Graduation Project

The project is currently required for all seniors. Students must:

Select a graduation project that emulates a field study.

Write a proposal that is reviewed and approved by their teacher.

Research the topic, guided by essential questions.

Conduct a review of literature.

Write a major paper. At North Thurston and River Ridge high schools, it's an expository paper. At Timberline High School, the paper must make a persuasive argument.

Complete a community experience or a project/product with a mentor from the community.

Conduct a presentation before community members.

Tumwater School District Senior Project

The project is currently required for graduating seniors. Students must produce a portfolio that includes the following:

An introductory paper

Attendance summary

Academic history

Assessment results

Career interest survey(s)

Sample "best" works

Achievements -- awards and recognitions, in and out of school

A request for a letter of recommendation

Numerous other items

Students also must give a 12- to 15-minute presentation before a group of adults that gives an overview of their portfolio.

Olympia School District Culminating Project

The project is not a requirement until the Class of 2008.

Project proposal

Annotated bibliography

Journal

End result product

Reflective paper

Presentation

Sources: district Web sites

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

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Source: The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.

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